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SURREY HEATH BOROUGH COUNCIL
JOB DESCRIPTION
Directorate: Investment and Development
Job Title: Fixed Assets Accountant
Reports to: Investment and Development
Post Number: TBC
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
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To deliver the accountancy functions in relation to the Council’s commercial property
investments in accordance with accounting standards
To act as the financial lead with managing agents.
To provide a comprehensive professional accountancy and general financial advisory service
to the Council budget holders and member authorities in respect of property.
To prepare, monitor and report on commercial property budgets as appropriate
To ensure that VAT and other taxes are correctly accounted for
To ensure that requirements in respect of valuations and group accounts to support the year
end accounts are complied with
To lead the accounting for major development capital projects
To work on other Council projects as appropriate
RELATIONSHIPS
Supervisory Responsibility:
None
Important Internal Relationships:
Chief executive
Executive Heads
Chief Accountant
Transactions Officers
Internal Audit
Corporate property department
Budget Holders
Important External Relationships:
Managing agents
Property trust managers
Members
Auditors
IT specialists
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
Knowledge & Expertise
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To ensure that all property transactions including rent, services charges etc are recorded in
line with the Council’s standing orders, financial regulations and accounting standards.
To undertake regular reconciliations between the managing agents and council records and to
investigate and resolve differences
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To compile detailed revenue and/or capital budgets for inclusion within council’s budget in line
with the Council’s budget process.
To work with services to ensure that budgets are monitored, managed and reported to in an
agreed format on a timely basis
To prepare and submit information for the Land and Property Board and members to enable
them to monitor the performance of investments.
To ensure that issues identified within internal audit reports are responded to and acted upon,
as appropriate
To have an understanding of how to account for property development
To have an understanding of alternative business models such as joint ventures
To have an understanding of VAT and its application to property
To work on cross service initiatives as required
To Support the Executive Head of Property to ensure that services charges and recharges
from agents are in accordance with agreements.
Accounting
 Ensure that all property transactions are accounted for correctly
 Assist with the completion of Government Statutory returns as directed by the Chief
Accountant.
 To ensure that the councils financial records are maintained in accordance with the
instructions of the Chief accountant
Capital and Assets
 To prepare of the capital budget as required by the Chief accountant
 Ensure that assets and capital charges correctly valued and calculated in accordance with
accounting standards.
 Monitoring and reporting of capital expenditure to the land an property board
Probity
 Ensure the Council’s Financial Transactions, budgets and accounts meet with all due
standards of probity and that they comply with relevant legislation, accounting codes of
practice, financial regulations and standing orders
Systems
 To work to ensure that the Civica financial systems asset module is implemented.
Special Projects
 To work on the financial development and appraisal of potential investments and alternative
business models
 Undertake, participate in or advise on special projects and working groups as required
Leadership, including management and supervisory responsibilities
 None
Financial Accountability
 To be financially responsible for property investment budget and ensure that it is monitored
accurately and on time. To continually look for efficiency savings, wherever possible
 To monitor expenditure and income in relevant areas to ensure that spending is in line with
budgets and savings targets
Initiative and Independent Action
 To work autonomously using own judgement to make decisions with only occasional reference
to the sec151officer.
 To ensure Council internal procedures (incl financial regulations) are complied with
 Recognise, prevent and minimise fraud both internally and externally by knowledge of fraud
awareness issues and counter-fraud provisions, adopting procedures according to current
policies, referring discrepancies to the Council’s Investigation Section
 To keep up to date with changes in Accounting Policies and all technical aspects of changes
required
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Planning, Organising and Prioritising
 Work to manage the workload and ensure that deadlines are complied with
 Keep up to date with changes in legislation, financial regulations and accountancy practice.
 Plan and organise work effectively to deliver Council objectives and priorities
Communication
 To be able to converse clearly with other members of staff
 To be able to write financial reports for elected members
Customer Service
 To effectively contribute towards providing and improving the level of service that finance
provide to all customers maintaining and building effective relationships.
Health and Safety
 To be responsible for health and safety issues relating to the team and ensure each member
complies with statutory requirements and Council’s Policy
 Maintain a secure working environment at all times and adhere to procedures.
General
 To work with absolute personal integrity at all times
 To undertake other roles, responsibilities and duties commensurate with the level and
expectations of this post which may be required from time to time